Polish interior minister apologises for arrest of journalists

Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

Addressing a parliamentary committee, Piotrowska said the journalist arrest “should not have taken place when it did and never should again”.

She denied, however, that the arrest was a “form of repression” of the free media, as the wording suggests an order from above. No such order was issued, she said.

The special sitting of the parliamentary culture committee on the issue was called at the request of MPs from the conservative opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS). The MPs described the incident as unprecedented in the 25 years since the end of Communism.

The chief of police also expressed his regret over the incident. It took place during a demonstration against alleged irregularities during the local-government elections, which turned into an illegal occupation of the election commission building.

Journalists, one each from the Polish Press Agency (PAP) and TV Republika, a right-wing station, were present on site and were detained. According to Iwona Slesinska-Karasinska, the parliamentary culture committee chairperson, the problem with the police conduct was not that the reporters were detained and led out of the building, but that they were then held for a prolonged period. (an)